Student center opening brings LeTourneau students together

Longview, TX — LeTourneau University senior Alex Flanagan said a new student center that opened Monday will encourage more gatherings and fellowship on the campus.

“I’ve thought for a long time LeTourneau needed something like this,” he said. “I can see people spending lots of good times here and meeting new people. It is something I have envisioned, and I’m just sorry I won’t be here for much longer.”

The LeTourneau University student body entered the doors of the Anna Lee and Sidney Allen Family Student Center for the first time Monday morning. The $14 million, 60,000-square-foot facility will serve as a new crossroads for the campus.

LeTourneau University President Dale Lunsford said Monday that the center was originally scheduled to open in the fall, but construction had been ahead of schedule and he wanted graduating seniors to experience the campus’ new digs.

“This building was talked about 20 years ago,” he said. “Having a center for student life was something we talked about for a long time. To finally see it open and to hear it, it is an amazing day for us.”

Both Anna Lee and Sidney Allen said the facility is about the students and not the name on the building.